Improvement in marking stamps



L. BALL'INGER.

MARKING-STAMP. N'o.171,257. I Patented Dec. 21,1875.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE,

LIBANUS BALLINGEB, OF TRENTON, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN MARKING STAMPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 171,257, dated December 21, 1875; application filed August 30, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LIBANUS BALLINGER, of Trenton, in the county of Grundy and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Marking Stamps;

and Ido hereby declare the following to be their combination with the head of the stamp,

as hereinafter more fully explained.

The drawing represents a side view, partly in section, of my improved stamp. This consists of a handle, A, made of wood,metal, or any other suitable material, having a square head, A, into which are bored cylindrical recesses a, and b, having screw threads, as shown. The letter-marker B consists of a cylindrical hollow metal box, in which is arranged the type d for imprinting the name of post-office and date of mailing upon the letter or package. The type is kept in place by a set-screw, c, and the box B is secured upon the handle by a screW-tenon which fits into the recess 1). The canceler 0 consists of a cylindrical piece of rubber, cork, or other similar suitable material, the diameter of which must be somewhat in excess of the receptacle or provided for its reception. One end of the cylinder 0 is screwed down into the recess a until it reaches the bottom thereof, the surface of the other end 0 forming the cancelingsurface, which may be left plain or cut out into a suitable pattern, at the option of the operator.

It will be observed that the marker B is placed nearer to the end of the handle than the canceler. This is for the purpose of utilizing the weight of the metal box, with the type inserted, more effectually when the stamp is reversed in using the canceler; and another object of this' arrangement is to enable the operator to cancel the postage-stamp and affix the post-mark to the letter upon which he is operating without the necessity of changing the position of his hand or of the letter, all that he has to do being simply to turn or reverse the handle in his hand.

I am aware that so called hammer-stamps are not new, and I do not, therefore, claim such a stamp, broadly; but

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

V The combined post-oflice marking and canceling stamp herein described, consisting of a handle, A, having the head A, which is provided with screw-thread recesses a and b, arranged opposite to, but not in a line with, each other, and the elastic canceler G, and type-box or marker B fitted into said recesses, all combined and operating substantially as and for the purpose herein'before set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day of March, 1875.

L'IBANUS BALLINGER.

Witnesses: Y

A. H. BURKEHOLDER, J. W. (JAUGHLAN. 

